The Let's Plays: Pokemon Platinum!

[Formalhaut]

Yes, I know Shion is also doing a Pokemon Let's Play of the same generation, but I want my very first Let's Play to be a easy one. Therefore, Pokemon is fairly easy, and I love the 4th Generation, so there ya go.

I'll be playing Pokemon Platinum, from start to finish, doing as much as I possibly can. I like to do everything, as you can imagine. So anyway, let's begin. I actually downloaded an Emulator just so I could take screenshots. I find Let's Plays work best with screenshots.



If you want to be named as a Pokemon, then by all means, go bark at me. If you want to be a specific pokemon, I'd have to go check if it's actually in the Platinum national pokedex.


But anyway...

------------------------------------------

Chapter One
New Beginnings And A New Pokemon

So I'm having this weird haze like dream. It's pretty unusual. In it, this old guy is telling me all about Pokemon and what it means to be a Pokemon trainer. He also asks for my name, which was creepy. He asked after my friend Ace as well, so I can only assume my small village has a paedophile in it's midst. Anyway, at the end, the creepy old man shrunk me down to the size of a ant, clearly crushing me and my internal organs. I wake up from this ghastly nightmare.

I abruptly wake up and to my surprise, I was watching T.V the entire time! Must have been a boring programme then for me to drift off.


45501
Pretty bad signal as well. I forgot to turn off the subtitles: they really take up the entire screen


Anyway, just as I'm switching off the T.V, my friend Ace barges into my room. Unannounced. What if I was masturbating? He honestly has no sense of manners, I can only imagine how embarrassing that would have been.

He then talks about Prof. Rowan, and I then realise that 'paedophile' I was dreaming about was actually a well respected professor. Feeling glad I didn't blurt this out loud, I continue listening to Ace. He mentions something about him having loads of Pokemon and that if we asked, he'd give us some.



45502
Ace clearly didn't hear the cautionary tale of taking rare candy from strangers

He then says to meet up at his house, and if he's late, he'll fine me 10 million gil ur.. I mean poke. I think that's the currency in Sinnoh anyway. I finally have time to actually organise myself and save my game in my journal. I go ahead and change the font speed to Fast, and change the box design to my liking. I look around my decidedly threadbare room, and head down the stairs.

Mum is downstairs, watching television, which in my house is quite the pastime. She informs me what I already knew, and I exit my house, with a cautionary warning from mum to not wander into tall grass, or wild, rabid pokemon may attack and literally kill me. This is despite the fact that pokemon never die in trainer battles, so I'm confused as to how the same attack can just make a pokemon faint but literally slaughter a human.

I waltz around my village (I do notice emulators aren't quite as good, it's veeery slightly laggy) and I head straight for Ace's house. I go to open the door and...


45485
Giving me concussion.


He then forgets something, and rushes back inside. I then give him a taste of his own medicine and barge into his room. He then threatens me with homelessness again, and rushes to the Route 201. He marches off to Sandgem Town but senses my hesitance over tall grass. he then gives the perfect excuse:



45486
Yeah, because making lots of noise running won't attract any sharp fanged Bidoofs!


45487
I have a grass allergy, so I let him go first



Mercifully, we are stopped by the peado I mean the Professor. He berates us about being stupid (well, Ace was being stupid). He then walks off briefly, mumbling about his moral dilemma: should I give these children who clearly disobey orders and common sense Pokemon?

After thinking about it for all of 10 seconds, he asks us with a simple question.



45488
Enough to risk my grass allergy flaring up


I say yes, as does Ace. The Professor doesn't seem convinced until Ace selflessly urges him to give me pokemon over him. This comment alone seems to sway him.

Despite only meeting us for like 10 minutes, he decides to give us pokemon on the condition that we won't endanger ourselves, and to be honest, taking on Team Galatic and climbing Mt. Coronet doesn't seem dangerous at all.

Professor Rowan's assistant, probably napping, finally catches up and hands over the briefcase. Dawn, the voice of reason here, raises concerns about entrusting two rare (and in the games, otherwise unobtainable) pokemon to mere strangers, but the Professor knows best, and allows us to choose.

Ace, ever the gentleman, allows me to go first. And so I choose...



45489


No.1
Prinnere
Inspiration: Prinny, a character from that Disgaea series that I don't know about. Clearly the forums had an influence.

My friend Ace chooses Turtwig because he's a dick and likes to win one over my type, and so the Professor and his very serious assistant Dawn leaves, advising us to go meet him in Sandgem Town at some point.

Naturally, Ace wants to smack my Prin up.



45490


Very easy battle. I just used Prinnere to pound on Turtwig. Without context, that would have sounded like a very odd porno. Turtwig kept withdrawing as well, just like after a really bad sexual encounter.

In short, my Prinnere totally tore Turtwig a new one. I go back to my mum to tell her what happened.



45492
I'd tell you, but you'd probably vomit all over the floor

She wants me to thank Prof. Rowan more properly, rather than our original method of thanking him which was to smack his cherished pokemon around. I relent, but she gives me running shoes.

A good thing too, because until now I was walking around barefoot. I meet Ace again in Route 201 because deja vu works in mysterious ways. We both decide to go the lake and capture the legendary pokemon that lives there. Yeah, because that's not reckless!

We enter the lake, and meet some creepy dude with weird blue hair.



45493
The village drunk? Or creepy man we should call the police on?


He leaves soon after, and we hear the mysterious cries of a pokemon... actually, it was my phone ringtone. Damn it mum!

Ace is adamant it's the pokemon, but then remembers the fatal flaw in his plan: We don't have any pokeballs, and I don't think the net he borrowed from Bug Catcher Ralph would cut it. Acknowledging defeat, we decide to go to Prof. Rowan for some advice and poke balls.

This is the first time I have to really sort of explore in any meaningful capacity. I levelled up Prinnere to Level 8 by pounding more pokemon, making it learn Bubble. I also got the secret item in the patch of grass shown here:



45494
I was instantly stopped and searched by police


After more levelling, I read a sign saying to talk to everyone. I do so, and get a free potion in the process (See? Talking to strangers has no consequences!).

I eventually ramble into Sandgem Town and encounter Dawn! We enter the la-



45495
I developed internal bleeding from this THUD!!


After generic talk from Ace, me and Dawn enter the prestigious Pokemon Lab with only... two co-workers sans the Professor. Clearly budget cuts have crippled this lab, I think to myself. Anyway, the Professor looks at my Yellow health Prinnere and deems it perfectly happy, and I can now finally give it the name I've been calling it since I got it. He then wants to entrust a highly modern piece of kit to a person he has a 'good feeling' on. I believe this is why his pokemon research budget has been slashed by his superiors.

Because the game forces you to, I accept his offer and I now have a pokedex. He then wants me to traverse the entire region by myself, and scan every pokemon in the land with it. My mum will be thrilled.

I snoop around his lab's fridge to find it stocked with tasty sweets. Clearly isn't concerned with health at all. I leave before I get strange looks from the two staff who are actually in the laboratory.



45496
I get bashed into again...


The Professor gives me a technical machine (TM27: Return), which is just a CD, basically. Dawn then decides to give me the grand tour of Sandgem Town, which lasts all of 10 seconds. Big town, I think to myself.

Dawn once again is the voice of reason and thinks I should at least talk to my family before jetting off halfway across the region. Before this, I go talk with the local townspeople, which is Rule #01 of playing games apparently:



45497
A random stranger who enters your house


I briefly enter Route 219, the beach, to pick up an antidote by the ocean waves, and then I hotfoot it back to my mum's house. On the way, I encounter a Kricketot, whose Bide attack can be deadly. I allow it to use Bide, and I just spam Growl: when it releases it's energy (for 0 damage) I then attack with Pound. Decent strategy.

I tell my mum, and...



45498
Wow, took that much persuasion huh?


After thinking to myself that perhaps she was waiting for an opportunity to kick me out the house anyway, she gives me a journal as a [s]kicking out[\s] farewell present, Ace's mum runs in a panic, shaking her hands at God that she didn't give Ace her Parcel in time. My mum bravely volunteers... me to go deliver the parcel.

Knowing that he'd head straight to Jubilife City, Ace's mum is content and runs off. I speak to my mum again and...



45499
Probably about ways to get rid of us huh? I bet you'll cry tears of joy into your goddamn tea!

I am about to depart, when I decide that I've called it a day and go straight to bed. I'll set off in the morning, and he can wait on his 'package' anyway.



45500
Meanwhile, I fondle my own.



--------------------------------------

I shall update this every time I feel like it's time to continue with the story. Again, if you want a pokemon named after you, then now's your chance, for I begin capturing pokemon in my next LP (Namely, Bidoof, Starly, Kricketot and Shinx. Of these, Starly and Shinx will be used the most).

I should also mention that this Let's Play is also being hosted and ran on Cimminy Cricket's Disgaea Fan Forums (http://forums.thedisgaeafan.net/showthread.php?p=23769#post23769), so during the process of naming pokemon after people, I may very well have different members from both forums wanting to be named. I just thought I'd let you know. I mean, my Piplup is named after Prinny on Disgaea!

[Pumpkin]

I want a cute water Pokemon named after me :D

Good lets play :3

[Jinx]

Get a Mudkip. Name is Sam.

[Formalhaut]

Can I even get a Mudkip in Platinum? I didn't think so seeing how it's a Gen.III starter!

[Jinx]

Well, then, you're dead to me.

[Skyblade]

Mudkip can be traded from HG/SS, or gotten through Pal Park.

[Formalhaut]

Well, then, you're dead to me.

I'm running this on an Emulator (literally the only way for me to even do screenshots), so if I get far enough in the story, I might just 'slip in' a Mudkip for you.

Not now though, I don't want an unfair advantage. Maybe when I go to the Swampy Marsh after the 5th Badge.

[Raistlin]

Oooh, pick me, pick me! I don't know the later-gen pokemon, so just pick a good one.

[Formalhaut]

One thing you'll notice is that I name pokemon through 'inspiration' of members. Prinny is a member of Disgaea, but I didn't want to just call my Piplup "Prinny", I wanted it to be based on, but not actually the name.

For you, I'm thinking Ghastly/Haunter/Gengar. It suits your set. :p

[CimminyCricket]

Pick me too! :D

I'm digging the screen shots and the captions underneath them. I've laughed out loud a few times.

[Formalhaut]

Pick me too! :D

I'm digging the screen shots and the captions underneath them. I've laughed out loud a few times.

Literally the only reason there is screenshots is because I'm using an emulator! I'm glad you're finding them hilarious. I want to keep it light-hearted you know, Cracked style. ;)

[CimminyCricket]

The best was the tiny mushroom. xD

[Formalhaut]

The best was the tiny mushroom. xD

Haha, yes, I liked the last picture myself, about the package. There's the odd sexual innuendo just to keep it on edge.

[Del Murder]

Let me know when we get to Pokemon Yellow let's play. :D

[Formalhaut]

I might do a Pokemon Yellow Let's Play after this one concludes. I've never played it, and the Anime references, Pikachu following you, and the fact that you can in fact obtain all three starters makes it interesting.

What's good about Pokemon is that it's very easy generally to take screenshots.

[CimminyCricket]

omfg pokemon yellow the nostalgia :c

[Quindiana Jones]

If you don't get a female Gardevoir and give it all the best Special Attacks, then you absolutely suck at this generation. :colbert:

Dibs on Lucario.

[Sephiroth]

Name a Ponyta after me, Cetra.

[Quindiana Jones]

Rapidash is easily the best Fire Pokemon in this generation. Megahorn and Flare Blitz? yus plz!

[Sephiroth]

Rapidash can't fight competitively, however. You need a team good enough for its disadvantages. It's speed would be be devestating with even more attack.

[Quindiana Jones]

It can fight competitively when your only competition is the game, though. xD Even so, it's great Speed coupled with some pretty nice status dickmoves makes it reasonably annoying and quite helpful in proper competitions.

[Sephiroth]

It can fight competitively when your only competition is the game, though. xD Even so, it's great Speed coupled with some pretty nice status dickmoves makes it reasonably annoying and quite helpful in proper competitions. Status? Agility? Often KO Rapidash afterwards. Hypnosis? Bad Hit Rate. 5th generation Rapidash at least has a good movepool with Fire, Bug, Ground and Fight.

[Quindiana Jones]

Will o' Wisp is a great Burn move that can set up some devastating attacks after Rapidash's death. As you say, though, it's only really useful for normal play. But it is awesome, as well, so that counts for something. :D

[Sephiroth]

Wisp and Toxic are good, yes. But for that Ninetales is better since it can dry out the field and stall for a while plus use Drought for Fire Blast. Afterwards Chlorophyll Venusaur or Victreebel.

[Quindiana Jones]

Can't get Ninetales in Platinum if you have no friends, though. :(

[Formalhaut]

If you don't get a female Gardevoir and give it all the best Special Attacks, then you absolutely suck at this generation. :colbert:


What moves do you recommend?

Also, I'll be continuing the story soon guys!

[Quindiana Jones]

Presumably, you'll not be taking these lot online, haha, so I'd grab a Modest one and give it Psychic, Energy Ball (I think that's its name; the Grass type Special), Thunderbolt and Flamethrower. Gardevoir's Sp.Atk is so monstrously high that her STAB Psychic can take OHKO Pokemon resistant to it. I love her. xD

[Formalhaut]

Presumably, you'll not be taking these lot online, haha, so I'd grab a Modest one and give it Psychic, Energy Ball (I think that's its name; the Grass type Special), Thunderbolt and Flamethrower. Gardevoir's Sp.Atk is so monstrously high that her STAB Psychic can take OHKO Pokemon resistant to it. I love her. xD

It's an Emulation (the only way I can get screenshots :p) so no, they won't be taken anywhere near online.

[Sephiroth]

Presumably, you'll not be taking these lot online, haha, so I'd grab a Modest one and give it Psychic, Energy Ball (I think that's its name; the Grass type Special), Thunderbolt and Flamethrower. Gardevoir's Sp.Atk is so monstrously high that her STAB Psychic can take OHKO Pokemon resistant to it. I love her. xD

Guardevoir cannot learn Flamethrower. You need a Hidden Fire Power. And Psychic, Focus Blast and Thunderbolt ist better than a moveset with Energy Ball. Actually even Grass Knot is better than Energy Ball in several cases.

[Quindiana Jones]

Argh, I can't remember properly what I did with her, then. Nonetheless, she's a great Special Attacker.

[Formalhaut]

And so... let's go!

------------------------------------

Chapter Two
Big Lights, Bigger Cities

And so I depart my house for the very last time. It is a sad experience. I trudge down the stairs, looking forlorn. My mum cooks me my favourite Cinnabar Burger breakfast, which I eat with a glazed expression. She too looks on with a grim expression. Us two have always been together, and now she will be all alone in this tiny village. I collect my belongings, and, sighing, journey onward.

HA! Just kidding. I run down the stairs, get my backpack and don't even say bye to my mother. Damn broad didn't even look from the television screen!


45559
Look at her. Doesn't even turn around. What a douche.


I leave and travel east towards Sandgem City again. I enter the local poke-mart. I look around, and I'm surprised with how small it is, and how the wares are just jammed into the shelves. I approach the lone clerk, and taken aback with how easily he could be overpowered.

Even stranger, without any sort of identification, he willingly sells me medicine to me, a minor. Making sure to phone Trading Standards on this sham of a business, I venture north to Route 202 and encounter... Dawn. She must have been waiting a good while in the grass.

She decides it's time to show me how to catch pokemon. Contrary to what I believed, setting bait traps and bug nets just isn't enough. She demonstrates with her pokeballs how to catch a Bidoof.

45560

Seriously? That health bar looks mighty healthy still to me


Despite giving me a rather poor lesson on how to catch pokemon, she nonetheless kindly gives me five pokeballs so I can show you how it's really done. At this early stage of the game, the only option really is to just whack the victim until it's health is critical, and then just throw that ball in it's face.

Using this method, I caught and levelled up the following pokemon to the early teens. Yes, this took rather a while.

No.2
Sirus
Pokemon: Shinx
Inspiration: I guess it suits it I think.

No.3
Arcus
Pokemon: Starly
Inspiration: Erm.. it sounded cool on it?

No.4
Normalin
Pokemon: Bidoof
Inspiration: For a HM slave, it sounds rather apt.

No.5
Cimmamon
Pokemon: Kricketot, later Kricketune
Inspiration: Cimminy Cricket man!



45561


Finally, after all of this, I could continue with the story. I re-renter Route 202, and smash through three incredibly easy trainers. It's a wonder how they caught their pokemon in the first place.



45562
Our eyes met? I hope it wasn't love at first sight

4556345564
You think you're tough kid?


I investigate the patch of grass to the left, and happen upon a stray potion that undoubtedly a Starly would have ingested and choked to death by. Good thing I'm here right! Having explored Route 202 more than a cartographer ever would, I eventually venture into the perimeter of Jubilife City, but not before showing you guys where to get a quick cash injection this early in the game!



45565
Pro tip: This sells for quite a bunch


Climbing the stairs, I see Dawn, once again. She must be stalking me, I say to myself. She walks towards me and I swear she is staring at my crotch. I found it highly awkward, and I was about to protest when I realised she was counting the number of pokeballs on my belt. Relieved, she congratulates me for catching four pokemon. How difficult!

Still, she is kind enough to show me the Pokemon School in the City, which I thought was a good idea, and maybe Ace was there so I could deliver my package to him.

On the way there though, we notice this... unshaven, odd man, behind a lamppost. It was late at night, and we were only two kids, so I was nervous that this guy might be homeless and looking to rob us and my stardust.



45566
Probably urinating behind that lamppost


He then skulks behind another lamppost, and us two confront him. We begin to ask who he (and I was prepared to unleash my mighty Normalin on him) was when he interrupts Dawn and, astoundingly, reveals to us he is an agent of the 'International Police'. We rebuke him, but he then shows us his badge, and we feel much calmer.



45567
"Well.. ur actually... you know what? Yeah. Extraordinary. Let's go with that."


He informs us his codename is Looker, and that he is on the hunt for people who have stolen other people's pokemon. It sounds like a rough job, but he tells us to stay vigilant. Finally, he gives us a Vs. Recorder. He states that it is of no use to him as he is not a trainer, which sort of begs the question why he had it in the first place. Still, I feel glad that he gives it to me, not Dawn. Dawn then shows me the Trainer School, and departs back down to Sandgem Town.

No doubt I'll see her again soon enough. I enter the Trainer school anyway. It's a fairly small school, but it houses a battling area and a chalkboard and computer. Probably charity funded, I imagine. I spot Ace studying in the blackboard and give him my package. He is thankful, and opens it up to find two maps! He's grateful, but he doesn't need two maps. I tell Ace why his mum packed two maps in the first place. He shrugs. He gives me the spare map though, and we both study it carefully.

"It seems Oreburgh City is the place for me! It has a gym!". He then runs off, as usual. I study the blackboard, and notice the lesson is on status ailments. After conversing with the rest of the students and picking up the X Attack, I take on the two in the battling area.

The girl is pathetically easy, while the boy first uses an X Attack, it has little effect on the outcome.



45568
Ah, how naive.


After smiting the two, Normalin learns Rollout, a very powerful move at the time. I also obtain a potion, for no good reason at all.

I exit the school, and I then bump into some fat guy. He spouts stuff about being some president of the Poketch company, and how they're running a campaign right now: find and answer correctly questions from three clowns, and I will be gifted an expensive Poketch. Coming from a poor family, I've never own a Poketch, and he says I am a rare case indeed. I can only infer to this that the entire society is bourgeois.

Gee, my luck really has spiked.



45569
I've found the first one right in front of me


So off I go then. Amazingly, all the clown's questions are answered with a yes. How easy. At least with the last clown I learn about STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus), a very easy boost to exploit.

Having collected all three coupons, I return to the president...



45570
You need a Poketch application to count to three?!


Huzzah! A Poketch. A clock, pedometer, calculator and info screen all in one. Neat. I enter the poke-mart, and I purchase five more pokeballs for me to use. At this point, I only had 80 poke. Time to sell off that loot! The stardust sold for a cool 1000 poke. So apparently, five antidotes is equivalent to rare astronomical dust. Huh. For completion's sake, I purchase a single heal ball (that I probably won't use) and a air mail (that I definitely won't use).

As the golden rule of gaming states: Talk to everyone. I do so. The most funniest exchanges are below:



45571
Way to take your own advice here, Miss Rooted To The Chair


At the condominiums (snigger) I obtain a quick claw, which occasionally gives me the first strike. A decent enough accessory for my slowest fighter, which at this point was Normalin. Naturally, I gave it him. The blasted clown is blocking the entrance to the Television Station. No deal. I'll have to come back later. Meanwhile, in the Northwest of town, the Poketch company building has nothing of interest.

Deciding to call it a day, I enter the condominiums, and, annoyed that there is no bed, sit up a stool and crash.

Fin~

--------------------------------------

The next chapter will probably be shorter, as while all the storyline objectives in Jubilife City is over, there's still stuff to do, including optional activities. :D

[CimminyCricket]

Another great chapter, keep it up!

[Quindiana Jones]

Do another one immediately, please, thank you, goodbye. :jess:

[Formalhaut]

I'm glad people are enjoying them. Thanks guys! It's the support that makes me want to continue :p

[Formalhaut]

Chapter Three is probably one of several chapters where there's very little, if any, story development. This is basically just me solidifying my position in the game by capturing a few pokemon and going into two optional (for now) areas.

------------------------------------

Chapter Three
No! Oreburgh City is THAT way

I spent the rest of my time in Jubilife City just admiring the view. This took only several seconds as the place has the population of around 15 or so people from my count.

While all formal objectives in Jubilife City are now complete, those looking to set themselves up amazingly for Oreburgh City would do well to spend some time collecting some pokemon and fighting some (for now) optional trainers. Pretty much everything I do in Chapter Three is optional. It's good though.

To get the most out of my game, I turn my back on Oreburgh City and instead turn around towards Route 218. In the adjacent outpost, I see my first policeman (because crime is so low, one cop per city is more than enough), and strike up conversation. It's not as if he had much else to do.


45681
He has time to play part-time tour guide!

I also bump into a friendly fisherman who gives me an old rod, from which I get several splinters from. The bastard. Nonetheless, this is my first opportunity to actually use my assigned key item button. I go into the menu, and assign the Old Rod for faster catching. Entering route 218, I find an X Accuracy just lying there on the ground, almost as if someone wanted me to find it. Either way, I begin casting to catch my Magikarp.


45682
Clearly my long-term investment

Magikarp is pretty pathetic, and really is a burden to level up until it learns Tackle at (I think) Lvl. 15. Even then, it's highly fragile and until it evolves into Gyrados at Lvl. 20.

Anyway, my Magikarp is caught: what did I name it?!

No. 6
Eviscerva
Pokemon: Magikarp
Inspiration: After Eviscerate, to disembowel, or deprive of nutrients. As I said, the name is also a long term investment.

Anyway, I go heal up my Eviscerva so I can have it in the front of my party, so it does at least earn some experience. Besides, the rest of my party is very highly levelled and don't need it anyway. Eviscerva needs all the experience it needs.

I now head north to Route 204, and take a diversion to the right to pick up another carelessly thrown away item, a Parlyz Heal. Seriously! The people of Sinnoh are such litterers! I also encountered a Zubat in the night-time. Again, another long-term investment...oh, I one hit K.Oed it. Maybe later.

I then head north through Route 204, to find trainers! Oh noes!


45684
Did you mother ever tell you about manners?

This lass had only one pokemon, a Lvl. 7 Shinx. Suffice to say, it was easily ruined by swapping out Eviscera for Arcus. Heck, even Wing Attack, a 0.5x move, removed over half it's health.


45685
Oh, I'M RUDE now. You called me weak, and forced me to battle.

Another trainer nearby was just as easy, if naive thinking he could beat me with his Magikarp that Dad gave him: what a disappointing Christmas present. I had Sirus use spark for a flawless victory, and critical hit.

The last trainer, just outside the cave, is much more polite! She brings out a Budew, a new pokemon. It's a Grass/Poison, so my Arcus can smite it rather handily with Wing Attack. Another flawless victory.

I enter the Ravaged Path early, if only to catch more pokemon. I also find yet another deserted potion, which I pick up. In the cave, I catch a Psyduck and a Zubat!

No.7
Molle
Pokemon: Psyduck
Inspiration: Italian for soft, flabby, weak etc.

No. 8
Syphax
Pokemon: Zubat
Inspiration: Based on that undying cie'th in FFXIII...that was a flying face.

I head back to Route 204 and encounter a Budew. Seeing that I have no grass pokemon, and it's actually not a bad one at that, I decide to pick that up as well.

No. 9
Floresco
Pokemon: Budew
Inspiration: Italian for Blossom

After this, the only pokemon I haven't caught yet is a Wurmple, but annoyingly, it only appears in the morning and the daytime. I cannot be asked waiting, so I 'come across' two Wurmples! That Poison Sting is still annoying as ever.

No. 10
Sprie
Pokemon: Wurmple, later Beautifly
Inspiration: Sounds fairy-like, which is what Beautifly looks like

No. 11
Vorax
Pokemon: Wurmple, later Dustox
Inspiration: Latin for devouring, voracious

-----------------------------------

I'll end it here, for literally the only thing I'll be doing is levelling up my new additions to be equal with the rest of my party. I promise, the next chapter will be me actually going further in the story!

[Raistlin]

How could you not name the Psyduck after Psychotic???

Otherwise, another entertaining read. I look forward to the next adventure.

[Formalhaut]

How could you not name the Psyduck after Psychotic???

Otherwise, another entertaining read. I look forward to the next adventure.

Psychotic deserves better than Psyduck I think.

[Jinx]

FYI: I also think naming a Jynx after me would be pretty fitting.

[Formalhaut]

FYI: I also think naming a Jynx after me would be pretty fitting.

I'll probably "stumble upon" a Jynx while I'm on route to Snowpoint City.

It's funny you say that. I was just doing the washing up and thinking about my LP and was thinking a Jynx would fit Sam to a T.

[Jinx]

It's the lips.

[Raistlin]

Psychotic deserves better than Psyduck I think.

Are we talking about the same Psychotic?

[Formalhaut]

Their coming in faster now as I get towards a more interesting part of the game. Hooray! In this part, I do everything up to entering the Gym, for Gyms deserve their own mini chapter.

------------------------------------

Chapter Four
The Rocky Road Express

Having exhausted every possible activity in Jubilife City, I call it quits. Every pokemon, sans Eviscerva, is Lvl. 11 - Lvl. 13, which is more than enough; in all honesty being Lvl. 10 or Lvl. 11 is very acceptable. No matter!

There's a Rival Battle coming up. While I didn't do it for the very first one (as the only difficulty is getting Carpal Tunnel from mashing 'Pound') from now on every 'unique' battle will have it's own specialised segment. I like to think of this as a Let's Play and Walk-through Hybrid.

But back to being in character. I depart in the early morning, because my puppeteer is a night owl and he likes to do these things at night. What a bastard; I want to get to bed, not travel to Oreburgh City. Regardless, I'm powerless to stop myself walking out of Jubilife due east into Route 203. As soon as I step down onto the grass, I spot Ace, who really must have been waiting a long time. He probably didn't expect me to head off in opposite directions to gather some optional things!

He rambles on about going to be the best Pokemon Trainer EVER, and then we battle. Why? Because this is Pokemon, and battle we must.

This is starting to sound apocalyptic where it's every man for himself.



45719
My team For This Rival Battle



Here Comes A New Challenger!



http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090903051838/pokemon/images/e/e1/RivalPlatinum.gif
Rival Ace
Second Encounter
Starly - Lvl. 7
Starter - Lvl. 9

The Bad News
Your starter is effectively rather useless at this stage.
His Starly is a bit of an annoyance.

The Good News
Shinx can wipe the floor with both of them he's all you got,
​and even an average party can wipe the floor with them.

The Battle
An incredibly easy battle. Even if you don't have Shinx (and you're pretty stupid not to catch one) literally any pokemon that is typed neutrally to these two can just slug it out with their most powerful attack. Common fighting options include Shinx's Tackle, Starly's Wing Attack and Quick Attack and Kricketune's Fury Cutter. If you've outdone yourself and ventured into Route 204, then both evolutions of the Wurmple Family can prove good assets. Meanwhile, for raw damage, Zubat learns Bite at lvl.13 which is probably your most powerful move at this stage.

But even I'm talking too much about this battle. Just whack away. Complimentary video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLxlOAuefVk) just to show you HOW easy it is.

45720
He clearly hasn't played any of the other Pokemon games has he?

After making shocked noises that he could possibly have lost with his two pokemon, he decides to take the Oreburgh Gym challenge. Good luck with that, I think to myself.

Either way, I'm by myself again. The key catch of this Route is definitely the Abra. While it's a bitch to catch and even more of a bitch to train, getting an Abra now and training it up diligently will eventually make it grow to one of your top Pokemon. We can get it in a trade later in Oreburgh City, but it carries with it the trade restrictions that come along with it. Personally, I wanted my own.

No. 12
Murdel
Pokemon: Abra
Inspiration: After Del Murder. Obvious, but effective.

Rather like Magikarp, Abra is incredibly difficult to train up. It's only move is Teleport, making it even more useless than Magikarp because it 'removes' you from the area! Mercifully, it does evolve into Kadabra at Lvl. 16, but until then, it's staying firm in my PC Box until I get to a stage where my other pokemon hit similar levels.

The rest of this route is largely uneventful. There's trainers and littered items aplenty, but nothing really worth going on about in more detail. However, the most hilarious exchanges that ARE worth poking fun at are below.


45721
My. Four whole Pokemon there. I'm quivering in my boots.

4572245723
Yeah, I've got NO PROBLEM getting the Gym Badge. They must be handing them out like candy


After all of this, Arcus learned Double Team, a brilliant move which, if spammed, renders it mostly unhittable unless facing a 100% accurate move. Furthermore, my dear Arcus evolved at Lvl. 14 to... Staravia! It won't be levelling up till quite awhile, so I better get used to this new design.

I then enter... the CAVE OF DOOM. Actually, it's called the Oreburgh Gate but it's a fairly poky little area, for now. I walk forward and then a big scary man comes at me!


45724
"Why, I think you're just the boy to be my next murder victim!"

Mercifully, he just wanted to give me a Hidden Machine. Why they are hidden are as of yet, unknown, but alas, it's a welcome gift. It's HM06, Rock Smash, which is perfect for my HM Slave Normalin.

I wander through the cave and encounter a Geodude! The perfect Rock Pokemon for me at this stage of the game. It's annoying, mainly because I had to use Prinnere to just pound it, whittling it's health bit by bit into the red.

No.13
Adamatur
Pokemon: Geodude
Inspiration: By saying it, it sounds rather 'rocky'.


45725
A three minute adventure.


The cave is fairly dull, and as are the trainers. I leave, and is then pounced upon by what I can only imagine to be a descendant of "Man who shows you town" guy who lived in Cherrygrove City in Generation II. His descendant is much more lazy though, and he only shows me direct to the Pokemon Gym. We both notice Ace waiting impatiently outside.


45726
Must be from all the crack he's been snorting


I go speak to Ace, who informs me that he's "Like, SERIOUSLY Tough, bro" and helpfully tells me that he's gone down to the Mines. Before doing so, I decide to explore the town more.

On the second floor of one building, I get a Dusk Ball from a lady who must be bankrupt from handing out free stuff to every trainer she meets. In the next building, a girl wants a Machop for an Abra. I already have an Abra, but I'm fairly certain it's holding an item, so I make a mental note of it for later. Upstairs, a fat dude wants to see a Geodude but can't be bothered literally walking a dozen steps to go to either the Oreburgh Gate or the Mines. Sensing an item out of this, I quickly head to the Pokemon Centre and return. It's then I notice the Geodude I caught was holding an Everstone. An amazing catch, given that it's a 5% chance. I mean, it's pretty useless, but whatever. Free item. I'm drifting off. I show the fat guy a Geodude and I get a Heal Ball out of it.

Meanwhile, the Poke-mart is still awfully ran as ever, though at least there's two clerks. I buy a single Tunnel Mail for completion's sake, together with a exorbitantly priced Net Ball (1000 poke!?!?!).

Back in the Pokemon Centre, I talk to everyone. Our first mention of Team Galactic is by the old guy, who appears to be a voice of reason, wondering why no one is investigating him. Why isn't he chief of police, I wonder. The mystic asks me what sort of trainer people see me as, and I obviously choose Ace Trainer.

Down the escalator, I enter the Wi-Fi room. I'm running an emulator, so I doubt I'd use this at all, but hey, free stuff. In the final tall building, a trainer sees the glint in my pokemon's eye and gives me a Great Ball! Huh, not bad.

Finally, I enter the Oreburgh Mining Museum. It's fairly dead, with just lumps of coal. Joy.

Again, the more humorous exchanges are below:


45727
How many safety and construction codes has Roark broken for allowing unqualified civilians to wander down into the mine?

45701
I can show you some pictures of several skin conditions if that turns you on

45702
If I choose 'Roughneck', do I immediately develop a sense of homophobia and cursing?

45703
Standing right here, baby

4570445705
My conversation with Easily Impressed Man and Easily Impressed Daughter


I know I know, get on with it Formy! I hear you say. But I'm not done here quite yet. Towards the mine, there's a very lucrative Slag Heap that houses two mighty fine items! Besides the visible Yellow Shard and Dire Hit, if you inspect the Slag Heap itself in two points you can obtain...


4570645707
Needless to say, the Pearl sells for a bunch


I scoot back to the Poke-mart to sell off my Pearl. DON'T sell off the Heart Scale - they do have a purpose. Keep hold of them. The Pearl sells off for a tidy 700 poke. Now, an optional location! Route 207 does become a mandatory location after the second Gym, but by going here now, we can access the lower patch of grass to obtain two rather useful pokemon.

Machop eventually evolves into Machamp, and while it isn't the 'best' Fighting Pokemon, it's certainly not bad, and given that Fighting is strong against Rock, getting it now makes sense. Ponyta is more of a long-term investment. It's useless against Roark, but our next gym is Grass, and it's a great Fire pokemon anyway. Both pokemon then, just make perfect sense. I got both, plus an extra Machop for the trade. Also, hidden item alert!

No.14
Mulletoros
Pokemon: Machop
Inspiration: Flying Mullet. From photos, he looks pretty trimmed and fit, and Machop's head as a Mullet style thing going on.

No.15
Ifalna
Pokemon: Machop
Inspiration: Sephiroth (the member) said "Name a Ponyta after me, Cetra". I took the 'Cetra' part of that quote and expanded it and called it Ifalna.




45708
Another hidden item courtesy of Formy - huzzah!

With the spare Machop (who I called Tradebot) I trade it with Hilary and obtain her Abra, called Kazza. As I thought, it held an Oran Berry. While a weak gift, it didn't take much to get, and hey, free stuff.


45717
I immediately released it into the wild.


With literally everything I could do complete, it's finally time to head into the mines. There's only one more pokemon to collect, Onix. I do so, and then actually get on with the story. Oh, outside the mine, to the east is a passage containing a miner and his Machop. Speak to him for a Super Potion. Adequate.

No. 16
Adamatamai
Pokemon: Onix
Inspiration: Firstly to give it some relation to Geodude (while completely separate species, I tend to think them two related) and it's also named after an VII enemy! Gives it a rather Oriental feel, strangely.

After this, I headed down into the mine, and fought a fairly weak miner. He probably should be concentrating on the damn job though; I wonder what Roark would have said. Either way, Floresco wiped the floor with it's Mega Drain. I encounter Roark at the bottom of this dig, and demonstrates to me the 'power' of Rock Smash. He then runs off to the Gym to get ready. To the west of that event, another weak miner get squashed by me, and I find another discarded item: an Escape Rope. Perfect!

And not a moment too soon, for I was beginning to develop consumption. Knowing that the next boss battle will be an important one, I decide to rest up for the battle. I'll fight him tomorrow, I think to myself.

I wonder how Ace fared with just his Starly and Turtwig?

-----------------------------------

A brief note about the video: it takes a looong time to upload to YouTube. Once it's complete, you can watch just how easily I wiped the floor with Ace's pokemon. It's only at like 38%, and I've had that running since that battle. Since then, the rest of this Chapter took like over two hours, roughly. It'll take awhile!

[CimminyCricket]

I'm such an awesome Kricketot.

[Flaming Ice]

I like how they say something like "Be nice to MY abra"

*sigh* it's my abra now...remember you just traded it one second ago?

[Skyblade]

Half of me wants to join in the Let's Play fun with a Let's Play of Pokémon XD (and spell checker now recognizes the accent. Joy), but the other half knows I probably wouldn't make it nearly this fun.

[Formalhaut]

Half of me wants to join in the Let's Play fun with a Let's Play of Pokémon XD (and spell checker now recognizes the accent. Joy), but the other half knows I probably wouldn't make it nearly this fun.

Awww, please do. I've never played XD. Or even really know what the heck it is in the first place. It'll be an interesting Let's Play.

[Formalhaut]

The first Gym Battle. A damn easy one as well. I'm just wondering: Does the Pokemon Leagues pay these leaders to lose?

Damn. Easiest job in the world.

------------------------------------

Chapter Five
Caved In.

It's the day (or night, but semantics) of my very first gym battle. To say I was apprehensive was an understatement. I mean, these are the elite trainers of Sinnoh! I keep saying this to myself as I'm training in the Oreburgh Mine to get stronger.

I train all my pokemon hard, like they're in a North Korean concentration camp. For five straight hours my Pokemon fought Geodude after Geodude, as well as assisting the miners carve chunks out of this coal. I'm fairly certain one of my Pokemon had a heart attack. I'm not sure, but all I saw was many miners looking frantic and phoning for poke-ambulances.


45901
"Your Prinplup is in a critical condition in hospital. We've had to induce a coma."


Either way, it was fine, and it came back chirpy enough to smite an Onix. It was a tough, long training session, but mercifully my Pokemon got through it in (mostly) one piece. Even better, some of my Pokemon evolved! Indeed, Prinnere, Sirus and Normalin evolved during all of this.



45843
I imagine it will be going through the annoying 'teenage' years

45844
My HM slave. Based on it's eyes, it looks like it's high on crack

45845
Looking like a 80's rockstar.

But enough training, my pokemon are battle ready. I go check the sign in front of the gym...



45846
So... you're cold, unmovable and have jagged edges?


I don't know exactly what I was expecting when I walked into the Pokemon Gym. At the very least, I was expecting it to be full of trainers all diligently training their pokemon against other trainers. I was expecting different areas to focus on things like cardio, strength training and maybe some PokeYoga. Instead, what I found was vastly underwhelming and disappointing. Observe!



45847
Two trainers!?!

45848
So, since it was constructed, only ONE trainer has been certified? Jesus.


Now, I know there's a financial crisis, but surely you could fund more technology. Maybe a running machine, or you know, a punching dummy so Pokemon could practice their moves. And there's only two trainers! I was horrified. I thought Gyms were popular places for people to go train up their Pokemon. Based on this, it looks more like a fancy warehouse.

But onward we go. I got some 'advice' from this dude who stood at the entrance. He seems nice enough, but some of the the advice he gave was painstakingly obvious. Anyway, I go on, and I'm given a choice! Do I go the long route and avoid all the trainers? Or do I go plough straight on and cut through the chaff?

Oh come on. The choice was obvious.



45900
No, no you're not.


Uh oh! But here comes the big bad! He's going to be tough though right!

Right?



45838
My team for this battle





Here Comes A New Challenger!



http://hydra-images.cursecdn.com/pokemon.gamepedia.com/3/33/RoarkPlatinum.gif
Roark, The Rock
The Gym Battles - First Ignition
Geodude - Lvl. 12
Onix - Lvl. 12
Cranidos - Lvl. 14

The Bad News
Cranidos hits like a truck at this stage of the game, and with
decent health, it's unlikely to be 1HKO. Insanely high Attack
means your Pokemon are in danger of getting hammered.

The Good News
Thankfully, Cranidos has pathetic defence and even worse
Special Defence, so it won't last long. Geodude and Onix aren't
even worth mentioning.

The Battle
Don't be scared about the Cranidos. If you have six Pokemon on your belt like you should have, then you literally have nothing to fear. Even if it manages to luckily faint one of your pokemon, another one can just so easily take it's place and conclude the battle.

But let's take this chronologically. That Geodude is of no trouble to you at all. Literally any Super-Effective move can smite it in seconds. The same goes for the Onix, but it may take two moves, due to it's higher defences; though my Mulletoros used Low Kick to abuse the Onix's heavy weight to 1HKO it. Stealth Rock is a move Geodude can use and it's certainly worth mentioning. Whenever a pokemon switches out, it harms it slightly, of course, modified by type advantages and what have you. It's more of an annoyance, if anything else.

As for Cranidos, it's most painful move is Headbutt, which can take off a sizeable chunk of health. Pursuit is even more insidious. My Sprie (after paralysing Cranidos) actually fainted, first from the Stealth Rock, from which it took a x4 from, halving it's health, and then from a Headbutt which took it down to critical. Finally, Pursuit ended it.

Even with a fallen pokemon, I still had five pokemon to back it up. The only reason a player might have trouble with Roark is if they brought in too few a pokemon or is drastically underleveled. Seriously, don't worry about it. While I was annoyed that Sprie fainted, it was totally avoidable.

Complimentary video (http://youtu.be/y6iAikfPMJk), if you will.



45839
Who had like, double the amount of Pokemon you had.


After being all broody and sullen, he mans up and gives me my Coal badge. He also gives me Stealth Rock in TM form, the move that crippled my Sprie (the bastard). After this, he lets me leave. But not before Mr. Advice pops up and says...



45840
"My one and onl- ur part of my huge fan-base!"
"..."
"I'm sooo lonely."

I exit the 'gym' and go rest up my Pokemon, as well as make a few tactical changes to keep the team re-balanced. Tired after the 'tough' Gym battle, I call it a day. I then remembered something:

How the smurf did Ace get a badge!?!



45842

------------------------------------

Yup, I know this is a shorter chapter than the frankly humongous Chapter Four, but Chapter Five will hopefully be bigger. In fact, it's quite awhile until the next Gym Battle.

Also, a welcome surprise next Chapter! I wonder what it is!

[Skyblade]

The first Gym Battle. A damn easy one as well. I'm just wondering: Does the Pokemon Leagues pay these leaders to lose?

Damn. Easiest job in the world.

------------------------------------

http://www.pocketmonsters.net/images/characters/1496.png
They look friendly, but that doctor's degree is fake, and his assistant is actually his mistress

45837
No, no you're not.




First, you have two invalid attachments.

Second, I hate to be this guy, but there's something I've got to bring up about your initial question. If you were intending to get to it later, I apologize (I know there are details I left out of my Let's Play that get revealed at a later point). If so, let me know, and I'll edit this out so as not to steal your thunder.

Yes, yes they are. Gym Leaders are meant to challenge people working their way toward the Elite Four. They're meant to test commitment, skills, strategy, and bonds.

In Pokémon Platinum, the game you're doing an LP of now, you get to eventually stumble across the place they all hang out on their off days, and challenge their personal teams, rather than their challenge teams. You can face four of them a day.

Roark (who I was lucky enough to get on today's cycle), goes into battle in this area with:

A level 62 Aerodactyl
A level 63 Ramparados
A level 61 Golem
A level 61 Probopass
A level 65 Tyranitar

So, as you can see, Gym Leaders are actually pretty dang powerful trainers, and are easily among the top 1% of trainers you'll face in the game (story wise, I don't count the final arenas).

Roark's dad is also a Gym Leader. One of the things Roark will say when you challenge him in the pub is that it was after he became a Gym Leader that he realized how awesome his dad was. Which might indicate that he also thought that Gym Leaders were just pushovers, since their public face is their challenge teams.

[Formalhaut]

I was sort of joking about that. I've played Pokemon Platinum before, and I'm not saying that they are push-overs :p

And the attachments, at least my end, are working perfectly fine.

[Skyblade]

I was sort of joking about that. I've played Pokemon Platinum before, and I'm not saying that they are push-overs :p

And the attachments, at least my end, are working perfectly fine.

Ok, I wasn't sure. Even among people who've played and beaten it before, I've had people who haven't reached that place, so I wasn't sure if you had or not.

The first one is displaying a message for me that says "I like stealing images without asking".

And the second one just says "Attachment 45837". It's a link, but clicking it just takes me to a page that says "Invalid Attachment". Not really sure why they're working for you, but oh well.

[Formalhaut]

Aha, I think I know what you're on about, it should be fixed. As for the 'stealing' thing, I just google imaged a relevant pokemon doctor type thing to run along with my joke. I might change it actually. I don't want a bloody lawsuit over a Let's Play.

[Skyblade]

Aha, I think I know what you're on about, it should be fixed. As for the 'stealing' thing, I just google imaged a relevant pokemon doctor type thing to run along with my joke. I might change it actually. I don't want a bloody lawsuit over a Let's Play.

Alrighty, they're fixed now. Yay.

Thanks for fixing those, and keep it up!

Platinum is such an awesome game. I wish it had multiple save files so I could play through it again.

Ooh, or New Game+. They need a Pokémon game with New Game+.

[Formalhaut]

Ah well thank you! Your XD: Gale of Darkness Let's Play is also very good :D

Oh! Do you want to be named in my game? What Pokemon would you like to be?

[Skyblade]

Espeon!

Umbreon or Darkrai if no Espeon.

[Formalhaut]

And so, onward to the next town! In this chapter, I'll be 'finding' some normally unobtainable pokemon as a reward for beating the first gym leader, but also just to be a tad cheeky and include some of my friends in my game. I'm limiting myself to two, but every gym leader I'll slip in a couple. So keep your requests coming in guys!

After the initial hunt, I then get on with the story, finishing up all formal objectives in the re-visit of Jubilife City. Again, it's not a long chapter, but I don't want them too long.

Otherwise you guys will start losing interest :p

------------------------------------

Chapter Six
Attack Of The Spacesuit Grunts

I am feeling good after winning my badge. I gaze at it lovingly, I stroke it's firm features, I rub it hard... harder... HARDER... ah, that's better. All nice and shiny. I place it in it's hand-crafted badge case and go on my way.

As I'm about to enter the Oreburgh Gate again, I'm stopped by a friendly yokel who informs me that several rare pokemon have been spotted in Route 207! I ask for the friendly guy's name, and he replies back "Emulatio". Sounds Italian, I think to myself.

True to his word, I see many rare pokemon that have gathered in the long grass. Here's all the pokemon I caught, all thanks to the words of this kind man!


45977
Wasting TWO Heal Balls and a Poke-ball. GRAH

45978
Aww, I love Growlithe.


No.17
Samamary
Pokemon: Mudkip
Inspiration: Sam, aka Tifa's Boobs. The Sam bit is obvious. The 'mamary' bit is derived from 'Mammary'. Take a guess to see the connection.

No.18
Formalhaut
Pokemon: Growlithe
Inspiration: My joint favourite pokemon together with Absol, which I'll slip in much later.



It's rather funny, because Samamary's Trainer Biography states it is 'Highly Persistent'. I'll say, I blew three darn pokeballs on the stubborn pokemon.

Either way, I head back to Jubilife City, but not before Ace decides to give me internal bleeding again and bump into me. He discusses Eterna City as the next Gym location (Gee, I do have my own map) and runs off on his way.

Now that I have Rock Smash, I can finally explore the Northern part of the Oreburgh Gate and head down to the basement. My HM Slave Normalin comes in handy here. I descend into the basement. In this cave, I spot and grab TM70 Flash which will come in very handy later on in the game.

There's nothing much else in this basement. I do spot however one lone cyclist who somehow got here without so much as a scratch. Maybe she lives here, I wonder. Either way, she tells me about the bumps in the road.


45979
"The broken bones and wrecked bikes are just part of the thrill"

Pokemon encouraging dangerous cycling! In a kids game! Huzzah!

However, there's a big pearl right beside her which I grab, thinking it will sell for big money. The standard size pearl sold for 700 poke, so I rub my hands with glee, Synoptikal style, at the prospect of bigger money.

Through training to get my two new charges up to speed, Samamary actually evolved in Marshtomp! Congratulations.

But enough optional activities! Let's crack on to the story. So I'm backtracking through the Oreburgh Gate and Route 203. Fairly uneventful, you can imagine. I re-enter Jubilife City to find... 'Secret' Agent Looker. He blabs on about how useful the Pal Pad is to me, forgetting I am running on Emulator and is in-fact entirely useless. Great detective work there Looker.

He finally tells me that there's no bad guys around, and I should be completely safe from harm. Thanks Looker!


45982
Finally, an adult I can trust in these games!


In Jubilife City, there's not exactly a great deal that's changed. I did notice that the T.V Station STILL isn't open, for that annoying clown is still in the way. Mercifully, the Poketch company headquarters is open. I pay a visit, mainly so I harass the receptionist to make her job more interesting.



45985
Christ, talk about selling yourself there.


I talk to the president, who just happens to be not busy whatsoever and standing around in the foyer, and gives me the Memo Pad app. Thanks, I guess. The company must have an open doors policy, for I could go upstairs and use the computers to research all about the apps they had on offer. I laugh. It must keep security costs down.

Heading back downstairs, I'm stopped by this reporter... Oh for God's sake.


46025
Followed quickly with a middle finger.

45984
"It uh... lists things?"


I reply 'subtle' and I quickly run off in-case I'm harassed any further. Being done with Jubilife City, I decide to head to Eterna City. Checking my map, it's a fair way, but thankfully there's a town not far from here that I can use to rest up at. But as I'm leaving the city...



45986
OH, GREAT job there Looker. No bad guys at all huh?


Uh oh! Trouble, I say to myself. The mystery space-suited men ask for the Professor's research notes, and keep repeating about how failure to comply will result in a painful time for his assistant.

Gee, that's dark for a Pokemon game.

Rowan, amongst all of this, still finds the composure to ask me how my bloody pokedex is coming along, and even congratulates on my badge. Now, I'm sorry Professor, but now is not the time for idle conversation!


45987
Hey, Team Galactic grunts have feelings too you know


Because the Professor loves to pass of the hard to mere minors, he gets me and Dawn to fight his own battle. Talk about respectable. Me and Dawn engage the freaks who are rather wimpy it has to be said. They have a Stunky and a Glameow. Both are pretty easy. I decided to use Cimmamon because Cim has been complaining about how I never use him, so, there you go. Dawn has her Chimchar, which for the most part just lazes around being useless. Cimmamon pretty much single handedly smashes these two grunts.


45989
See there Cim? Evidence.


Actually, I probably should apologise to Looker: there are no bad guys around in Jubilife City; just two poor blokes pretending to be bad guys. Either way, they 'benevolently' retreat, and us lot are left to mull over what happened.

Now, apparently, when pokemon evolve, they release a mysterious energy that, according to Team Galactic, can be harnessed. Prof. Rowan thinks such thoughts are dangerous. And I'm inclined to believe him.

I mean, mysterious energy trying to be harnessed by a corrupt group? Why, Pokemon Platinum is the prequel to Final Fantasy VII no?

Professor Rowan and Dawn depart back to the laboratory, but then this fat guy approaches.


45991
Because attempted robbery and assault is a fun spectator sport!

As a 'gift' for doing what a policeman should be doing, I'm given a fashion case. More useless tat I'll probably never use.

However, this scene does now re-open the T.V Station. It's a fairly large building and rather boring, but it does hold some things worth mentioning. On this ground floor, there's a lottery corner at the main receptionist. Again, a kids game endorsing lottery. At least it's free...Bah, no match. How terrible.

Up the stairs, I get a Piplup mask, and there's a backroom for dressing up Pokemon.



45992
Dreamy hiker? Sounds rapey.


Fearing the worst, I enter anyway. I enter, and talk to what must be clearly a very gay man (Being a hiker, he would be what we'd call a 'bear') and decide, what the hell, I'll dress up a pokemon. My result is below:



45993
Cimmamon in drag. Well, bits of fluff.

45976
Important parts covered.


With the 'fun' over, I move on. Ignoring the pestering Interviewer, I climb the stairs, I ignore the records room, climb the next stairs (having asthma, I almost passed out) and enter what is seemingly the president's room. Again, the buildings of Sinnoh all have open-doors policies. With the Station thoroughly rooted out, I exit, and, knowing that the trip ahead will be long, I call it a day.



4599545994
Open-doors policies right!

------------------------------------

Come the next chapter, I'll be heading to Floaroma Town, and liberating the Valley Windworks.

And keep your Pokemon requests coming!

[Skyblade]

45961
"It uh... lists things?"

Attachment 45961, Invalid attachment.

Should be Attachment 45985.

[qwertysaur]

You should definitely consider drifloon and drifblim. :p

[Formalhaut]

QWERTYSAUR. Not seen you in ages. Oh, is that you requesting to be Drifblim? I would have thought Ivysaur would have been more you.



45961
"It uh... lists things?"

Attachment 45961, Invalid attachment.

Should be Attachment 45985.

Fixed. Sorry Skyblade. Adding attachments is becoming the bane of my life. I insert the image, hit preview... 'invalid' attachment. I then have to go through the entire article re-submitting bloody images. Mistakes are aplenty.

[Formalhaut]

Floaroma Town next. It's a fairly dead town for the most part besides the storyline, so there's less "me going off doing optional stuff" and more "me kicking the asses of organised crime".

------------------------------------

Chapter Seven
Disaster in Bloom

I wake up the next day (It's night-time, but we'll skim over that) and decide it's time to start the long trek to to Eterna City. Patting myself on the back with having the foresight to pre-emptively enter Route 204 earlier, I stroll through the already defeated trainers. I do wonder why they've remained rooted to that spot since a few days ago. Maybe their homeless and have nowhere to go? Either way, they could have at least taken their pokemon to the pokemon centre.

Eh. I move on anyway and enter the Ravaged Path again. So I enter this ridiculously small cave and rather than going right towards the exit, I instead go left using Rule #2 of playing games: go the opposite direction of the exit, for there will normally be treasure.


46071
See! Always works.


There appears to be a small body of water as well, but because I couldn't possibly swim, or use one of my pokemon to swim for me, I leave it alone for now. Do be aware that with Rule #2 in mind, there will be treasure there as well.

I head right towards the light and exit to the northern section of Route 204. I spot this trainer who is seemingly staring in one spot.


46072
Hmm. She can't possibly want to engage in battle.

46073
DAMMIT


Flower Lady is rather easy. Her Budew falls easily to fire, though I just had Cimmamon abuse Fury Cutter. It's 'Water Sport' move, which is not a sexual euphemism, did nothing to slow it's demise. She then sent out a new pokemon! Cherubi. Even better. Being pure Grass, it's now weak to Bug.

This Flower Lady clearly doesn't care much for nature, for there's a discarded Awakening right near her. I pick it up and move on and bump into a bug keeper, but not before swapping Ifalna in to the top spot. Bug Boy has a wimpy Wurple that I smite in one hit with Fire Wheel. His Kricketot falls even easier. Literally the easiest battle ever.


46074
Riiiiiight.


Finally, twin sisters! This means a double battle. They both have Pachirisu, an electric, weak squirrel type thing. I put my Water/Ground Samamary in the lead, together with Cimmamon so Cim will like me more for using his pokemon. With Samamary's Ground typing, she is effectively immune to their Electric attacks. Meanwhile, Cimmamon is hardy enough to withstand most non-super effective attacks anyway. Samamary's Mud Shot can quickly cleave off large amounts of health.


46075
"This Trainer...will write about our failure in a Let's Play, Liz"

After taking money from children younger than me, I go on my way. After heading to the extreme left to pick up TM09 Bullet Seed, I enter Floaroma Town and pass under the arch. The pokemon center and poke-mart both look really out of place in this quaint little town. I enter the pokemon center and heal up my pokemon. There's this old man in the center with this rather entertaining sound-bite:


46076
So far, I've entered a mine, several caves, and fought off dangerous spacesuit men. In what way is that 'safe'?

At the poke-mart, I purchase a Bloom Mail for completionist purposes and sell off that Big Pearl I found for... 3750 poke! Needless to say, that's a welcome boost this early, and all completely for free. After this, I began talking to the friendly locals. Snippets are below:


46077
Know enough that it's included in a Legendary sidequest

460784607946080
Sounds like the abridged history of Midgar.

46081
I didn't come here to get Psychoanalysed lady


For agreeing that pokemon plucking berries is cute, I get a whole TM for the move Pluck. Gee, that was easy. I finally enter the fancy building with the awning and enter and find it's a flower shop. I randomly obtain this Sprayduck to water plants with, and a Cheri berry from this lady. I'm beginning to warm to this town: I've already been given three separate gifts.

I decide to enter the northern meadow to get 'emotionally' healed, only to find it blocked by more Spacesuit people. Some treachery is afoot! I head east anyway towards Route 205. I'm only a humble pokemon trainer, I'm sure the authorities can deal with whatever's going on. None of my business.

So I'm just strolling along and...


46082
Ooooh s**t.


I just happen to be the trainer to be walking along. Just my bloody smurfing luck. I listen to the girl's tale of woe anyway. Apparently, her father is being held captive in the Valley Windworks by strange men, and kicked her out. And, rather than get a hold of the authorities, or, literally ANY OF THE TOWNSPEOPLE, she just stood in that spot until a trainer came strolling along.

Screw this I think to myself. I march up towards Eterna City regardless. This girl can ask someone else.


46083
Why...why...why...


Because for some reason I resist the urge to just use my pokemon to smash through these guys, I decide that, what the hell, I'm forced to liberate the Windworks. In the Windworks entrance, I pick up yet another discarded potion.

I also shirk my responsibility as 'have a go hero' and decide to catch some pokemon.

No.19
Freyene
Pokemon: Buizel
Inspiration: Now, I know it's not an otter, but it's a Sea Weasel, which is close enough no? Because of this, it's named after our otterific friend Freya.

No.20
Felix
Pokemon: Pachirisu
Inspiration: Latin for happy.

No.21
Byran
Pokemon: Shellos - Pink
Inspiration: Shion wants to be Shellos - Blue. I do want to catch the Pink version of the Shellos as though, so I thought I'd pair the two together. (FYI: It took FOREVER finding a Male Shellos)

No.21
Synoptikal
Pokemon: Venonat
Inspiration: After Synoptikal's favourite pokemon. Well, it's actually Venomoth, but he'll have to wait for Lvl.31 to get that.



I'll level these up later, I think to myself. I've got some kicking ass to do! I head back to the Valley Windworks after re-ordering my pokemon, and approach the lone Grunt standing guard at the door.


46088
I'm giving you the look of "Look mate, I have to do this for the story. Let's get this over with"


He's very easy, by the way. A simple, weak Glameow. My Sirus easily sparks it to death. He then bolts himself inside, but not first revealing where the others works key is.

Scrambling back to the Floaroma Meadow, I spot two more grunts harassing a man.


46087
Also known as 'booty juice'


Naturally, fighting ensues. I was expecting a double battle, but much to my surprise it's just two separate fights. Both are easy though. The rape victim then hands me over some of his 'honey' as thanks as well as a dropped Works key. Perfect!


46086
I swear, I'll stop this running gag soon


I rush back to the Valley Windworks to conclude this surprisingly long quest. Using the Works Key, I open the Works door. The Grunt who I beat was seemingly standing right by the door the entire time, almost as if he expected for me to enter. He runs off and warns the commander. I walk through the facility, smiting Grunt after Grunt.


46085
I probably will in the next few chapters.

And... oh great. Our first commander battle! This will be tough, I mean, she's the top elite of this evil organisation! This will be a struggle right!

Right?




Here Comes A New Challenger!



http://www.psypokes.com/platinum/trainers/GalacticCommanderMars.png
Commander Mars
Team Galactic - Sequence I
Zubat - Lvl. 15
Purugly - Lvl. 17


The Bad News
Zubat's Toxic can really mess you up if left to linger, while
Purugly is just a tank type pokemon, boasting high HP and
very decent attack. It's moves Faint Attack and Screech can
leave you hurting.

The Good News
Zubat is easily felled an Bad Poison can be cured with a simple
antidote. Purugly is still weak to Fighting.

The Battle
While her two pokemon do have some good moves, there's only two of them. Zubat is still a regular ol' Zubat you've been facing time and time again, though it now has Toxic. Still, my Sirus with Spark easily killed it. If it does get off a Toxic, a simple antidote will easily cure it.

As for her Purugly, the only advice is to just pound away. It's a Tank, so it's not as if it'll fall in one hit. Just whack away with your strongest moves, and it'll fall. For what it's worth, using Stun Spore can lessen the assault you'll be facing. But yeah, there's very little in the way of tactics here. If you want Geodude, or any sort of Rock Pokemon can fair very well here, because Purugly uses only Physical attacks.

There's another YouTube video (http://youtu.be/4vH421OrTiQ) if you want to see me cream her. Also, special surprise this time!


46069
Whoopsie Daisy!


Then, Commander Charon, who by the sound of his name probably has a very minor role in the story, chimes in and scolds Commander Mars for losing to a child. Fair point. So why didn't you pitch in? You just stand and watch?

After they squabble, they depart, and the owner of the Valley Windworks thanks me and exclaims how fantastical the claims of Team Galactic were. In a touching scene, father and daughter reunite. Awwww. After they have reconciled, I ask if I could stay the night. Eterna City can wait awhile more.



46070
Way to break up this fond moment


I think to myself how he will shower, because I've not seen a single bathroom in this entire region so far.

----------------------------------

Again, if you want me to include you as a pokemon, don't hesitate to ask!

[Jinx]

MUDKIP :D

Don't evolve me. I just want to be this totally bad ass level 99 Mudkip.

[Formalhaut]

MUDKIP :D

Don't evolve me. I just want to be this totally bad ass level 99 Mudkip.

You were sort of late a full chapter ago Sam :p I'll just catch a new Mudkip.

[Jinx]

D:

[Formalhaut]

D:

This is what happens when you don't comment on every chapter. ;)